Immigration regulations for South Africa

What you should consider

New regulations effective from 1st June 2015 regarding traveling with minors to/from South Africa.

Required documents

Effective travel date from 1st June 2015, regardless of the time of booking all minors under 18 years of age traveling to and from South Africa, have to present additional documents which were not needed until now. These new regulations apply to all travellers, regardless of the nationality. It is important to check carefully the different requirement as otherwise entering or leaving South Africa will be refused.

All documents issued in a language other than English must be accompanied by a attested translation issued by the authority in the country concerned. All documents must be original or copies certified as a true copy of the original.

For further information, please contact the South African Embassy in your country.

Minors traveling

Documents needed

Minors traveling

with both biological parents

Documents needed

Passport and an unabridged1 birth certificate

Minors traveling

with one parent travelling

Documents needed

Passport and an unabridged1 birth certificate

and

Consent in the form of an affidavit from the other parent registered as a parenton the birth certificate authorising him or her to enter into or depart from SouthAfrica with the child he or she is travelling with. This affidavit may not beolder than three (3) months, dating from the date of travel

or

A court order granting full parental responsibilities and rights or legal guardianship in respect of the child, if he or she is the parent or legal guardian of the child

or

Where applicable, a death certificate of the other parent registered as a parent of the child on the birth certificate

Minors traveling

a person who is not the biological parent

Documents needed

Passport and a copy of the unabridged1 birth certificate of the child

and

An affidavit from the parents or legal guardian of the child confirming that he or she has permission to travel with the child

and

Copies of the identity documents or passports of the parents or legal guardian of the child

and

Contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child

Minors traveling

unaccompanied minor

Documents needed

Proof of consent from one or both his and her parents or legal guardian, as the case may be, in the form of a letter or affidavit for the child to travel into or depart from South Africa. Provided that in the case where one parent provides proof of consent, that parent must also provide a copy of the court order issued to him or her in terms of which he or she has been granted full parental responsibilities and rights in respect of the child

and

Letter from the person who is to receive the child in South Africa, containing his or her residential address and contact details in South Africa where the child will be residing

and

Copy of the identity document or valid passport and visa or permanent residence permit of the person who is to receive the child in South Africa

and

Contact details of the parents or legal guardian of the child

An unabridged birth certificate is a document containing the childs’ information and both parents’ information at the time of registering the birth.

In the case of foreign countries that do not issue unabridged birth certificates, a letter to this effect issued by the authorities of the foreign country is needed.